Football players, Jiminy Cricket's fat brother, and some tipsy tourists...DONE! p.9

[AlohaPolynesian]

Can't wait - that is what drew me to this TR! JIminy has been my favorite for as long as I can remember...

Right now I am busy planning our upcoming March 2010 trip... We've been doing two-a-year trips for the past few years, but the March trip will be it for 2010...

You never know what can happen! I would've never in my life thought I would have gone to Disney three times this year, but it happened. I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya!

I'm in. I want to hear about the football players and tipsy tourists!

Thanks for joining! It was a pretty eventful weekend...

Great start to your TR!!

I think I know why all those football players are there! I'm a little bit jealous too! Although, a couple of them make me want to throw up!

Thanks! I have to ask, why do they make you want to throw up?!

wow so BW doesn't as bad now! The pool still freaks me out a little bit lol. I can't wait till I can begin my TR tomorrow, perhaps I should start uploading my 450 photos now?? lol

We never made it to the pool, but judging from the pictures it'd probably freak me out too! And yeah, you need to start uploading girl!

 

[Spoogle]

Well, maybe that was a little harsh! Let's just say some of them are so disgustingly perfect and they don't play for my team. If they were on my team (and not members of rival institutions) I might feel different. I can't wait to hear about it in your next installment! I love college football and I would have been so excited to have been there!

 

[tinkgurl]

Woo! You started!

Love the pic of you and your mom in front of the tree in your intro!

Wow, the room at the Boardwalk is nothing like I expected it to be. Very nice! That bed looks cozy!

I can't wait to find out who the football players are!

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

Well, maybe that was a little harsh! Let's just say some of them are so disgustingly perfect and they don't play for my team. If they were on my team (and not members of rival institutions) I might feel different. I can't wait to hear about it in your next installment! I love college football and I would have been so excited to have been there!

I can totally agree with you on that!

Woo! You started!

Love the pic of you and your mom in front of the tree in your intro!

Wow, the room at the Boardwalk is nothing like I expected it to be. Very nice! That bed looks cozy!

I can't wait to find out who the football players are!

Aw thanks! I know, I never really even considered the BWI before this trip for some reason.

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

As we walked from the busses to the monorail at the MK, I took a picture of the sign for the Christmas party since we would be there later.

At the Grand Floridian, a ton of memories were brought back. When my parents brought me here as a little kid it was right after Thanksgiving so all of the decorations were up. Last time I came over Christmas was in 2004, but we were at the Yacht Club and didn’t even go to the MK resorts. We checked in for tea and were told it would be about ten minutes, so we explored the lobby and took some photos in front of the tree. Only the one I posted on the first page turned out okay because my mom said she doesn’t like taking pictures anymore so she didn’t smile in the other ones.

We headed back over to the check in area to wait for our name to be called for tea. I didn’t get too many pictures while we were waiting because one of the supervisor/manager type guys working there started talking to us after he noticed our pins. After I told him we were celebrating my graduation, he started telling me I should apply for a job at Disney and explained the jobs he has had since he started working there and how Disney is paying for his grad school.

Our hostess asked where we were staying and when we told her it was the BoardWalk she asked if we had seen any football players. I asked her what was going on because we had seen a few before we headed over here and she said it was for the ESPN College Football Awards! As a sports fan (although mostly baseball), I watch ESPN a lot. So my mom had this look on her face like “You totally booked the BWI because you knew this was going on!!” But in truth, I had totally forgotten about it! I watched the awards last year on TV and now I was kicking myself for not remembering that I’d be there around the same time. Oh well…just another excuse to go next year, right?! And for those of you wondering, the guy I saw in the lobby was Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh - who was a candidate for the Heisman Trophy! And remember how I said he was huge? Well I looked it up and he is 6'4'', 300 pounds!

We were taken to the first table when you walk in and our server Heather Lynn explained how the tea works. My mom was hungry so she decided that we should do the “Grand Tea” which according to AllEars is “The classic English tradition of Afternoon Tea, Grand Floridian style. We offer you a variety of tea sandwiches, scones and jam tarts, followed by your choice of our freshly baked tea pastries or English trifle, accompanied by a glass of Domaine Ste.-Michelle sparkling wine and your choice of tea”.

As soon as I took this picture, everyone kept looking at me strange, so unfortunately I didn’t take any more from the tea. It was delicious though – especially the scones and the trifle! There was an older couple next to us celebrating their anniversary and they were just adorable. My mom and I almost cried when we heard their conversation with their server – it was so sweet.

After tea it was time for MVMCP! We were able to enter the park at 4pm with our tickets. We had to stand in the rain and wait for them to wristband us so they could tell we were there for the party. Unfortunately I did not pack our Mickey ponchos from previous trips, so it was time to buy some new ones. We wore the ponchos and headed through the park to ride a few things before the party got started. My mom actually seemed to be enjoying herself, thanks for the HGTV special about the holiday decorations. She loves that channel and is a fan of the guy who hosted the special, David Bromstad - so that was a good sign!

First we watched the castle light up and it looked gorgeous!

Then we decided to squeeze in a few more attractions before finding a good spot for the parade. I know it is easier to go to the late parade, but we were so tired from traveling and I wanted to see if there would be any cute football players in the lobby when we got back LOL so we decided to just find a spot early for the first one. We ended up right across the street from Liberty Tree Tavern and grabbed some hot cocoa and a cookie from the station next door.

I know my mom and I are adults, but we are not tall people. So just because you have a child does not give you the excuse to stand in front of us 2 minutes before the parade starts with small children on your six foot tall shoulders. My mom got SO mad at these guys and I was not happy either. I stood on the something to be able to see better and my mom just tried to look through the two dads in front of us. I got a few pictures of the parade but most of them didn’t turn out well.

The only other thing we (and when I say we, I mean I) really wanted to see was the holiday version of Wishes. We had time to kill and also a TS credit from our free dining plan, so we walked over to Cosmic Ray’s. I had a veggie burger and my mom got the hot dog and we grabbed a seat up front so we could watch the dance party. Let me just say, I would go back to MVMCP just for this dance party. It was hilarious watching everyone dance and the guy teaching all the moves on stage was just a riot. My mom didn’t want to dance, though so next time I go back I’ll have to bring someone who will! Here's the crowd learning Michael Jackson's "Thriller" moves.

I was pretty disappointed with holiday wishes as far as the narration and music goes. The fireworks portion was amazing! I’m just so in love with the normal Wishes so maybe that is why I didn’t really like this one? We had a great spot in front of the castle.

After the fireworks it started snowing on Main Street. For some reason fake snow on Main Street in Florida is way more exciting than real snow on my street in Ohio!!

Walking back to the lobby, our hotel looked so cute lit up!

When we got back to the Boardwalk we saw a few people from ESPN leaving the hotel with their credentials on. I am a regular ESPN watcher and although I have been a bad college football fan this season I still didn’t recognize any of them. There were a few groupie looking girls waiting on the big round couch in the lobby, and I kind of wanted to punch them in the face. Okay, that was mean. But seriously – I’m all about a cute football player but I’m not going to wait in the lobby for one because I want to go back to his room!! Gross. I tried to take a picture of them but my mom thought they’d catch me, LOL!

We headed up to the room and as tired as my mom said she was, I fell asleep before she was even done washing her face and brushing her teeth. Before I fell asleep, I set the alarm for 7:00am because I wanted to be up in time for our day to start. I knew it would be a busy one at Animal Kingdom and DHS, and there would be no time to waste. My mom asked if we really had to get up that early and after I said yes I wondered if I’d be able to get her out of bed in the morning…

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

did you ever make it over behind the bridge that goes by boardwalk and the swan and dolphin that is where they had all there stuff and semi trailers set up last year for the event.

here are some pics we got of the event setting up last year.

hope yo udont mind me posting those, just wanted to let you see what we saw last year.

i can delete em if you want me too.

 

[tinkgurl]

So cool about the football players!

The GF is so beautiful! I love how tall that tree is!

Ahh the MK. The Castle looks amazing! I really want to get down there sometime to see it like that for myself!

Ugh, I hear you about people standing in front of you! I am short-it happens to me all the time!

But, the parade does look neat! We saw it one year, but I think it's changed since then.

 

[TravelBug86]

Hey, there! I'm enjoying reading about your trip. The BW looks really nice!!! Never stayed there before, either. We're staying at the BCV for the first time next week! I would love to plan a mother daughter trip of my own someday but it's kind of hard b/c my whole family are disney nuts LOL! The Grand Floridian Tea sounds fabulous...

 

[TravelBug86]

Oh, yeah, and the thing with the guys standing in front of you at the parade... so rude!!! It's funny how rude people can be when a parade or fireworks are involved! And it doesn't help with how overly populated the parks are these days... you wouldn't believe we were in a recession by the amounts of people at Disney world!!!

 

[praisehisname]

We upgraded to first class when we checked in the night before, so we were able to go through a shorter security line.

Isn't it awesome? I don't know if I'll ever be able to fly coach again!

So gorgeous!

I really liked how the BWI is small and everything is connected.

That's the same thing we loved about the Beach Club. We didn't have to go outside to get to the drink station or lobby.

Aw, look at that Christmas Tree down there all alone!

My mom was hungry so she decided that we should do the “Grand Tea” which according to AllEars is “The classic English tradition of Afternoon Tea, Grand Floridian style. We offer you a variety of tea sandwiches, scones and jam tarts, followed by your choice of our freshly baked tea pastries or English trifle, accompanied by a glass of Domaine Ste.-Michelle sparkling wine and your choice of tea”.

Yum!

As soon as I took this picture, everyone kept looking at me strange, so unfortunately I didn’t take any more from the tea.

I felt a little funny taking pictures, too!

That was so cool!

I'm looking forward to hearing about your AK/DHS day!

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

Sounds like this trip is going great so far... Your Mom kind of reminds me of mine... Totally going along for the ride for your benefit but not really into it! Oh well... Hey, cute football players AND Disney... what could be better??

 

[wdwgirl03]

Awww great pictures from MVMCP! It was exactly a year ago today that we were at the party. So sad! In fact at this time we'd probably be standing somewhere on Main Street getting ready to see the castle lighting ceremony.

ETA: OK so I was just on twitter and saw that Michael Sarver released a new single on Tuesday. You know I had to tell you that.

 

[luckylady]

Love the pictures of the BWI all decorated. MVMCP sounds like fun even tho you had a couple of rude dads. Can't wait to hear more.

 

[jordanyosh]

The updated rooms do look nice. I don't think I've ever seen a TR of someone who's stayed at the BWI. Looking forward to hearing more.

 

[redlight]

I love scones. Afternoon tea done right is almost like another meal.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

how cool you got to see football players!!!!!! I too would have had no idea what was going on hehe. I'm glad your mom enjoyed the party I totally hate the kid shoulders thing. It tends to always happen to us during the fireworks. We try and stand behind a stroller that is up to the rope for the parade since we know there won't be anyone standing in front of a stroller!!! A tip for next time!!!!!

 

[Camster0307]

I'm here!

That's such a pretty picture of you and your mom in front of the tree! Again, I'm so sorry we didn't bump into ONCE while we were all there! I know I'm going to read this TR and see that we were at alot of the same places at the same time!

Your pix of the BW are gorgeous. We went picture crazy too! It's so beautiful and I am missing it sooooo much right now!

 

[Camster0307]

Oh - and about those football players.............we ate at the ESPN Zone on Wed.afternoon. The big room off to the side was closed off for the private function. When we walked by later that night, we saw the event going on. Pretty fancy. Next morning, we saw some big guys on the boardwalk, with a camera crew, getting their caricatures done. I knew they were players but had no idea who! They were huge - and cute!

Must say - there were celebrities all over the place the week we were there: college football stars, the Jonas Brothers, Mariah Carey, Kelly Ripa. Good time to be there.

 

[AlohaPolynesian]

did you ever make it over behind the bridge that goes by boardwalk and the swan and dolphin that is where they had all there stuff and semi trailers set up last year for the event.

here are some pics we got of the event setting up last year.

hope yo udont mind me posting those, just wanted to let you see what we saw last year.

i can delete em if you want me too.

No I don't mind at all - thank you for sharing!! We didn't get there until the day of the event so by the time we realized what was happening there was no time to explore.

So cool about the football players!

The GF is so beautiful! I love how tall that tree is!

Ahh the MK. The Castle looks amazing! I really want to get down there sometime to see it like that for myself!

Ugh, I hear you about people standing in front of you! I am short-it happens to me all the time!

But, the parade does look neat! We saw it one year, but I think it's changed since then.

Yeah I saw it a few years ago in 2004 (why does 2004 sound like last year but really it's SIX years ago!?) and when I was little but it is definitely different! The soldiers and the reindeer are the same though so I definitely got into the Christmas spirit when I saw them!

Hey, there! I'm enjoying reading about your trip. The BW looks really nice!!! Never stayed there before, either. We're staying at the BCV for the first time next week! I would love to plan a mother daughter trip of my own someday but it's kind of hard b/c my whole family are disney nuts LOL! The Grand Floridian Tea sounds fabulous...

Oh, yeah, and the thing with the guys standing in front of you at the parade... so rude!!! It's funny how rude people can be when a parade or fireworks are involved! And it doesn't help with how overly populated the parks are these days... you wouldn't believe we were in a recession by the amounts of people at Disney world!!!

Thank you! I am jealous that your family all likes Disney. My older sister LOVES Disney but she is married with kids so she takes her own trips and she is actually there right now!! And yeah, my philosophy on parades and fireworks is that ANYONE can sit down early and save themselves a good spot. So just because you have little kids that can't see doesn't mean YOU need to stand in front of people that have been waiting! OK - I'm done ranting about that, LOL!

Isn't it awesome? I don't know if I'll ever be able to fly coach again!

So gorgeous!

That's the same thing we loved about the Beach Club. We didn't have to go outside to get to the drink station or lobby.

Aw, look at that Christmas Tree down there all alone!

Yum!

I felt a little funny taking pictures, too!

That was so cool!

I'm looking forward to hearing about your AK/DHS day!

I think the tree looked SO strange there. it needs to be bigger or there needs to be something else around it. It's a pretty tree it just looks so...lonely!

Sounds like this trip is going great so far... Your Mom kind of reminds me of mine... Totally going along for the ride for your benefit but not really into it! Oh well... Hey, cute football players AND Disney... what could be better??

That is EXACTLY what my mom did LOL! She does that a lot though, does anything to make us happy even if it doesn't make her happy. I wanted this trip to show her that maybe things that make me happy CAN make her happy too!

Awww great pictures from MVMCP! It was exactly a year ago today that we were at the party. So sad! In fact at this time we'd probably be standing somewhere on Main Street getting ready to see the castle lighting ceremony.

ETA: OK so I was just on twitter and saw that Michael Sarver released a new single on Tuesday. You know I had to tell you that.

Awwww! My sister is there right now and even when she tells me they are doing things that I did just last WEEK I get sad, so I totally feel you! And yeah I saw that and don't laugh, but the song "You Are" was one he sang for us this summer. And when he sang it I was really surprised and it is actually pretty good. So I bought it Can you believe me?! Wait, don't answer that. LOL.

Love the pictures of the BWI all decorated. MVMCP sounds like fun even tho you had a couple of rude dads. Can't wait to hear more.

Thank you! I wish I had taken more pictures of the Christmas decorations, but with the event going on the lobby was just so busy.

The updated rooms do look nice. I don't think I've ever seen a TR of someone who's stayed at the BWI. Looking forward to hearing more.

And you read a lot of TR's! But now that you mention it, I don't think I have either which was probably why I kept thinking about switching my reservation!

I love scones. Afternoon tea done right is almost like another meal.

It WAS another meal! I had planned on grabbing a CS dinner when we got to MK but we were stuffed from tea. The trifle we had for dessert was to die for but we were already so full that we couldn't finish it. I will say that tea will be a must-do for us in the future!

how cool you got to see football players!!!!!! I too would have had no idea what was going on hehe. I'm glad your mom enjoyed the party I totally hate the kid shoulders thing. It tends to always happen to us during the fireworks. We try and stand behind a stroller that is up to the rope for the parade since we know there won't be anyone standing in front of a stroller!!! A tip for next time!!!!!

Thanks for the tip!

I'm here!

That's such a pretty picture of you and your mom in front of the tree! Again, I'm so sorry we didn't bump into ONCE while we were all there! I know I'm going to read this TR and see that we were at alot of the same places at the same time!

Your pix of the BW are gorgeous. We went picture crazy too! It's so beautiful and I am missing it sooooo much right now!

Oh - and about those football players.............we ate at the ESPN Zone on Wed.afternoon. The big room off to the side was closed off for the private function. When we walked by later that night, we saw the event going on. Pretty fancy. Next morning, we saw some big guys on the boardwalk, with a camera crew, getting their caricatures done. I knew they were players but had no idea who! They were huge - and cute!

Must say - there were celebrities all over the place the week we were there: college football stars, the Jonas Brothers, Mariah Carey, Kelly Ripa. Good time to be there.

Aw thank you. That is cool that you saw all that stuff for the event. And Cammie I swear, if I read your TR and find out that you get to meet the Jonas Brothers again... You're so lucky!

 

[Camster0307]

Aw thank you. That is cool that you saw all that stuff for the event. And Cammie I swear, if I read your TR and find out that you get to meet the Jonas Brothers again... You're so lucky!

LOL. Wait to read what happened. I swear, we have crazy luck where they are concerned. It could not have worked out any better!

And of course, I have a bazillion pictures.